Eating & Drinking in Atlanta, Georgia

Restaurants & Breweries in Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta, Georgia is a cultural hub and a bustling city in the American southeast. With the busiest airport in the world that hosts over 107 million people annually, it’s a major artery for travelers and business people from all over the world, either accessing other parts of the United States or staying for a visit in the ATL.

I visited Atlanta twice in 2019 and got to enjoy lots of eating and drinking during both stays. Here were some of my favorite gastronomical experiences:

Emerald City Bagels

Start the day off with a delicious carb load at Emerald City Bagels. Located in the hip East Village of Atlanta, this boutique bagel shop whips up fresh, New York-style bagels with a variety of delicious cream cheese options every morning. It’s perfect if you want to get going on a busy tourist day in Atlanta instead of poking around with a sit-down breakfast option. 

Waffle House

While not unique to Atlanta, if you’re not from the American South, you MUST go to a Waffle House at least once in your life. Even Anthony Bourdain praised the chain breakfast establishment as – “marvelous — an irony-free zone where everything is beautiful and nothing hurts.” Get the hashbrown bowl and a peach waffle, if it’s in season.

Home Grown Brunch

This hip cafe was bumping on Friday morning, full of patrons enjoying diner comfort classics like biscuits and gravy and breakfast enchiladas. Home Grown is located in the Cabbagetown area of Atlanta and is a fantastic choice for a slow breakfast or a hangover cure.

Daddy Dz BBQ

Daddy D’z BBQ Joynt is an iconic establishment that is a staple of southern barbecue in Atlanta. It’s no-frills dining – plastic lawn furniture, distressed tables, and disposable dishes and cutlery to serve up mouth-watering brisket, fried okra, and all the other favorites. The food here was DELICIOUS, I ate until I was physically uncomfortable, and I would visit again in a heartbeat.

My only criticism is the use of plastic silverware, plates, and cups, it’s definitely not the most environmentally-friendly restaurant in Atlanta.

Spoon Thai Food

When you need a break from greasy southern food, Atlanta’s variety of ethnic restaurants are here to save you. We tried Spoon EastSide Restaurant and thoroughly enjoyed some pad see ew and larb, as well as some awesome cocktails and Tiger beer.

Drinks

Wild Heaven West End

I really enjoyed this brewery in the “West End” region of Atlanta. Wild Heaven brewery is pouring up some unique brews like a smoked tomato beer, honeysuckle and lots of different fruit beers. They had a crazy amount of taps and fun bartenders pouring up pints. Stop here and sit outside a picnic table or play bean bags with friends on a warm night.

ASW Whiskey Exchange

This distillery is also in the West End, right by Wild Heaven, and is a fabulous stop for a drink even if you aren’t a huge fan of whiskey. ASW Whiskey Exchange is serving up dozens of whiskey cocktails and tastings with knowledgeable bartenders to explain different types and make recommendations. Stop here for a nightcap or to start before hopping to other nearby bars.

Refuge Coffee

This coffee shop is a must-stop in Atlanta for coffee lovers and caffeinated travelers. Refuge Coffee is a nonprofit coffee shop founded by and run by refugees. I didn’t know this before traveling to Georgia, but Clarkston, a neighborhood of Atlanta, is the most diverse neighborhood in the United States, with scores of refugees from different backgrounds being resettled here. Grab a coffee and something from the bakery for an afternoon pick-me-up and support local refugees of this community. It’s great coffee and a nice spot for a break.

Dairies Coffeehouse & Cold Brew Bar

Another caffeine stop to try out is Dairies Cold Brew Bar – a painfully-hipster spot pouring handcrafted non-alcoholic drinks while providing a space for folks to convene, catch up, or get some work done. While I enjoyed my iced tea on a hot afternoon, I wouldn’t go out of your way to get a drink here.

Atlanta is a great city for going out and enjoying restaurants of all types of cuisines, soaking up the sunshine with a craft brew, and indulging in southern-style cooking.

Have you been to Atlanta? What was your favorite restaurant or bar?

* Special thanks to my friend Grace Polverari for letting me use a lot of her amazing photos from our trip in this post. *